New Delhi

In the ever-changing landscape of workplace etiquette, one major shift that we saw in the post-pandemic world was the focus on the flexibility of working at your own pace, at your own place. Hyrbid workplace models and remote work became the new reality of corporations and MNCs. After this drastic shift, the professionals are now gradually pushing the boundaries of a structured 9-to-5 working model.

Advertisment

Office-goers across countries are now ditching the standard 9-to-5 workday and transitioning to more of a convenient 10-to-4 routine, as per one report in MoneyControl. The report was made based on data from the traffic analysis firm INRIX Inc., which shows that fewer professionals are commuting during the morning hours, creating a new trend.

Also Read | Do people actually tell the truth when drunk? The answer is both yes and no

The report further stated that professionals are unofficially reducing the work hours by two hours. 

Advertisment

The 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard stated that due to this change, a new trend is also seen in the daily traffic flow on the roads, as they observed traffic congestion during the middle of the day instead of the peak morning and evening hours snarls.

Watch | WION Fineprint | Dutch parliament makes working from home a legal right

×

Advertisment

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst who authored the INRIX report told CNBC, "We’re seeing less activity in the morning and evening but much more around noon."

Surprisingly, the number of trips made around noon is now almost equal to those at 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, which was once a lull between morning and evening traffic transformed into a peak period of congestion.

Changing priorities: Work-life balance is here to stay

The report also highlighted how work-life balance is becoming a priority for a growing number of professionals across the world. It quoted David Satterwhite, CEO of Chronus, as saying that many employees have embraced the ability to work remotely and only come into the office when absolutely necessary. This means that workers may arrive late and leave early, thus showing up at the office only for a brief meeting before heading back home.

The phenomenon, also called “coffee badging,” has become a widely accepted norm in workplaces and employees generally pop into the office for short stints and then prefer to continue their workday elsewhere- at home or at a coffee shop.

Also Read | Can walking after dinner improve your digestive health? Here's what you should know

A recent survey from Owl Labs found that 58 per cent of hybrid workers admitted to checking into the office for just a few hours before leaving.

The survey also found that a growing number of professionals are preferring a healthy work-life balance, flexible hours, and mental health support to climb up the corporate ladder. Many are reluctant to spend more time at the office than necessary.

In fact, if the option to work from home were removed, 66 per cent of workers said they would start searching for a new job that offered more flexibility, according to Owl Labs. Of those, around 39 per cent would quit right away.

(With inputs from agencies)